Reply to "Oops I'm doing it again....I lost my head..."

Saturday,

In the "some progress is better than no progress dept"....

I found some 1/16" thick by 1.5" wide aluminum stripping at Orchard Supply Hardware (didn't have steel...)  to fab up a new coolant tank strap. Came out very nice....we'll see how well it holds up!

 

With this piece installed and hoses connected (excepting a hose from the tank to an overflow catch can....) I do believe that my cooling system is sealed and ready to receive liquid!!!!

In the "going nowhere fast dept"....

My alternator mounting and belt interference still continues to be a PITA!

I took possession of a new 4.5" long 3/8" "button head" bolt to try instead of the 10mm hex head bolt... While it appears to clear the belt now, the slightly smaller diameter of the fully threaded bolt, and the fact that my alternator spacer is about .025" shorter than it should be, allows the alternator to rock all over the place.....much more than it used to. I can fix this with a new spacer, or a .025" thick spacer for the spacer....more lathe time! Perhaps I'll shop it out to my dad.....

I also am going to try and get a real metric bolt and cut the head down on it. I think I can do an abbreviated button head treatment to it and perhaps win! Leave just enough hex on it for a socket or a wrench to grab it... I found the bolts in the Fastenal catalog, just need to order one...

In one last "you've got to be kidding" dept, to top this all off, I had installed my new ginchy valve covers (not yet revealed in photos) earlier in the day, thinking that all is well....can finally seal up the engine....WRONG! In order for me to remove this alternator bolt, I must remove the RH valve cover now! THAT was NOT a part of the plan.....valve covers may hit the scrap pile later....we'll see.....go back to a modified version of my initial idea....but not an emergency issue, nor is the alternator belt thing as I have options.... Put this crap on my "fix next winter" list....

Have a great day! I think I'm going to replace that fuel line from the tank to the pump. In thinking about it over the past few weeks, the stuff was starting to get hard from the additives in the fuel....and since I have no fuel in the tank, I have new fuel line, and the car is up on blocks....I may as well do it!

Steve